Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood added: “The police are responsible for helping to hold to account those who perpetrate domestic violence.

"The fact that they have posted online a so-called joke which minimises the seriousness of this crime is both insulting and worrying. If individuals within the police force don’t understand that it is not a laughing matter and ensure that they take domestic violence seriously then who will?”

Online campaign group End Misogyny confirmed the post will be appearing on its weekly updates of online sexist abuse.

A spokesperson said: “We see high volumes of misogyny and abuse here at End Online Misogyny (EOM) and very often such comments, many of which promote domestic and sexual violence, are made under the guise of so called humour.

“It is however, extremely worrying to see a police account with nearly 1,000 followers and the following in their biography: “Dedicated Neighbourhood Police Officers - Engaging with the communities of Bordesley Green and keeping all updated on local and wider issues," tweet out such an endorsement of violence against women.”

After the incident another official Bordesley Green police account said: “An officer tweeting from this account has tweeted a sexist and offensive picture which clearly breaches the force’s social media policy.

“The officer has been referred to our Professional Standards Department. The tweet posted in no way reflects the views of the force

“We trust our officers to tweet in line with the force policy. We apologise for any offence caused by this inappropriate use of an account.”

The incident is the second time in less than six months the force has been accused of being sexist.

In February this year domestic violence victims slammed the force after it was revealed that sickening and abusive voice messages had been left by two officers left on the mobile of a 19-year-old Sutton Coldfield woman.

The female had called police to say she had been a victim of domestic abuse.